Abstract: This invention provides novel processes for amplifying nucleic acid sequences of interest, including linear and non-linear amplification. In linear amplification, a single initial primer or nucleic acid construct is utilized to carry out the amplification process. In non-linear amplification, a first initial primer or nucleic acid construct is employed with a subsequent initial primer or nucleic acid construct. In other non-linear amplification processes provided by this invention, a first initial primer or nucleic acid construct is deployed with a second initial primer or nucleic acid construct to amplify the specific nucleic acid sequence of interest and its complement that are provided. A singular primer or a singular nucleic acid construct capable of non-linear amplification can also be used to carry out non-linear amplification in accordance with this invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides an array of compositions useful for effecting and/or exhibiting changes in biological functioning and processing within cells and in biological systems containing such cells. In effect, these compositions combine chemical modifications and/or ligand additions with biological functions. The chemical modifications and/or ligand additions provide additional characteristics to the compositions without interfering substantially with their biological function. Such additional characteristics include nuclease resistance, targeting specific cells or specific cell receptors localizing to specific sites within cells and augmenting interactions between the compositions and target cells of interest as well as decreasing such interactions when desired. Also provided by the present invention are processes and kits.

Abstract: This invention provides novel processes for amplifying nucleic acid sequences of interest, including linear and non-linear amplification. In linear amplification, a single initial primer or nucleic acid construct is utilized to carry out the amplification process. In non-linear amplification, a first initial primer or nucleic acid construct is employed with a subsequent initial primer or nucleic acid construct. In other non-linear amplification processes provided by this invention, a first initial primer or nucleic acid construct is deployed with a second initial primer or nucleic acid construct to amplify the specific nucleic acid sequence of interest and its complement that are provided. A singular primer or a singular nucleic acid construct capable of non-linear amplification can also be used to carry out non-linear amplification in accordance with this invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides an array of compositions useful for effecting and/or exhibiting changes in biological functioning and processing within cells and in biological systems containing such cells. In effect, these compositions combine chemical modifications and/or ligand additions with biological functions. The chemical modifications and/or ligand additions provide additional characteristics to the compositions without interfering substantially with their biological function. Such additional characteristics include nuclease resistance, targeting specific cells or specific cell receptors localizing to specific sites within cells and augmenting interactions between the compositions and target cells of interest as well as decreasing such interactions when desired. Also provided by the present invention are processes and kits.

Abstract: The present invention provides an array of compositions useful for effecting and/or exhibiting changes in biological functioning and processing within cells and in biological systems containing such cells. In effect, these compositions combine chemical modifications and/or ligand additions with biological functions. The chemical modifications and/or ligand additions provide additional characteristics to the compositions without interfering substantially with their biological function. Such additional characteristics include nuclease resistance, targeting specific cells or specific cell receptors localizing to specific sites within cells and augmenting interactions between the compositions and target cells of interest as well as decreasing such interactions when desired. Also provided by the present invention are processes and kits.

Abstract: The present invention provides an array of compositions useful for effecting and/or exhibiting changes in biological functioning and processing within cells and in biological systems containing such cells. In effect, these compositions combine chemical modifications and/or ligand additions with biological functions. The chemical modifications and/or ligand additions provide additional characteristics to the compositions without interfering substantially with their biological function. Such additional characteristics include nuclease resistance, targeting specific cells or specific cell receptors localizing to specific sites within cells and augmenting interactions between the compositions and target cells of interest as well as decreasing such interactions when desired. Also provided by the present invention are processes and kits.

Abstract: The present invention provides an array of compositions useful for effecting and/or exhibiting changes in biological functioning and processing within cells and in biological systems containing such cells. In effect, these compositions combine chemical modifications and/or ligand additions with biological functions. The chemical modifications and/or ligand additions provide additional characteristics to the compositions without interfering substantially with their biological function. Such additional characteristics include nuclease resistance, targeting specific cells or specific cell receptors localizing to specific sites within cells and augmenting interactions between the compositions and target cells of interest as well as decreasing such interactions when desired. Also provided by the present invention are processes and kits.

Abstract: The present invention provides an array of compositions useful for effecting and/or exhibiting changes in biological functioning and processing within cells and in biological systems containing such cells. In effect, these compositions combine chemical modifications and/or ligand additions with biological functions. The chemical modifications and/or ligand additions provide additional characteristics to the compositions without interfering substantially with their biological function. Such additional characteristics include nuclease resistance, targeting specific cells or specific cell receptors localizing to specific sites within cells and augmenting interactions between the compositions and target cells of interest as well as decreasing such interactions when desired. Also provided by the present invention are processes and kits.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for detecting the presence of a target polynucleotide in a sample. The method comprises the steps of (a) contacting the sample under hybridizing conditions with (i) a single-stranded polynucleotide probe capable of hybridizing to the target polynucleotide and comprising a polynucleotide and at least one intercalating molecule attached to a nucleotide of the polynucleotide by means of a linker arm, and (ii) a background-reducing reagent which chemically modifies the intercalating molecule when the probe to which it is attached is single-stranded; and (b) detecting a property change resulting from the intercalation of the intercalating molecule into a target-probe hybrid, thereby detecting the target polynucleotide. The intercalating molecule which is part of the polynucleotide probe induces a change in a property, in either the probe, the target polynucleotide or a target-probe hybrid.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleotides and polynucleotides which are chemically modified or labeled so as to be capable of ready detection when attached to and/or incorporated in nucleic acid material. More particularly, this invention provides a nucleotide selected from the group consisting of (i) a ribonucleotide having the formula, ##STR1## wherein PM is a phosphate moiety, SM is a sugar moiety, BASE is a pyrimidine, purine or 7-deazapurine moiety, and Sig is a saccharide moiety. PM is attached at the 2',3' or 5' position of SM, BASE is attached to the 1' position of SM from the N.sup.1 position when BASE is a pyrimidine or covalently attached to SM; and (ii) a nucleotide having the formula, ##STR2## wherein PM, SM, BASE and Sig are as defined above but PM is attached to the 3' or the 5' position of SM when said nucleotide is a deoxyribonucleotide and at the 2', 3' or 5' position when said nucleotide is a ribonucleotide, BASE is attached to the 1' position of SM from the N.sup.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleotides and polynucleotides which are chemically modified or labeled so as to be capable of ready detection when attached to and/or incorporated in nucleic acid material. More particularly, this invention provides a nucleotide having the formulaPM-SM-BASE-Sigwherein PM is a phosphate moiety, SM is a sugar moiety and BASE is a pyrimidine, purine or 7-deazapurine moiety. PM is attached at the 3' or the 5' position of SM when the nucleotide is a deoxyribonucleotide and at the 2', 3' or 5' position when the nucleotide is a ribonucleotide. BASE is attached to the 1' position of SM from the N.sup.1 position when BASE is a pyrimidine or the N.sup.9 position when BASE is a purine or a 7-deazapurine. Sig is a detectable moiety that is covalently attached to BASE at a position other than the C.sup.5 position when BASE is a pyrimidine, at a position other than the C.sup.8 position when BASE is a purine and at a position other than the C.sup.7 position when BASE is a 7-deazapurine.

Abstract: A detectable molecule of the formulaA.sup.3 --(--X--R.sup.1 --E--Det.sup.b).sub.mwhere A.sup.3 is A.sup.2 or a polymer, where A.sup.3 has at least one modifiable reactive group selected from the group consisting of amino, hydroxy, cis OH, halides, aryl, imidazoyl, carbonyl, carboxy, thiol or a residue comprising an activated carbon; --X-- is selected from the group consisting of ##STR1## or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 branched or unbranched alkyl or aralkyl, which may be substituted by --OH; --Y-- is a direct bond to --E--, or --Y-- is --E--R.sup.2 -- where R.sup.2 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 branched or unbranched alkyl; Z.sub.a is chlorine, bromine or iodine; E is O, NH or an acyclic divalent sulfur atom; Det.sup.b is a chemical moiety capable of being detected, preferably comprising biotin or a metal chelator of the formula: ##STR2## or the 4-hydroxy or acyloxy derivative thereof, where R.sup.3 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or CH.sub.

Abstract: A detectable molecule of the formulaA.sup.3 --(--X--R.sup.1 --E--Det.sup.b).sub.mwhere A.sup.3 is A.sup.2 or a polymer, where A.sup.3 has at least one modifiable reactive group selected from the group consisting of amino, hydroxy, cis OH, halides, aryl, imidazoyl, carbonyl, carboxy, thiol or a residue comprising an activated carbon; --X-- is selected from the group consisting of ##STR1## a C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 branched or unbranched alkyl or aralkyl, which may be substituted by --OH; --Y-- is a direct bond to --E--, or --Y-- is --E--R.sup.2 -- where R.sup.2 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 branched or unbranched alkyl; Z.sub.a is chlorine, bromine or iodine; E is O, NH or an acyclic divalent sulfur atom; Det.sup.b is a chemical moiety capable of being detected, preferably comprising biotin or a metal chelator of the formula: ##STR2## or the 4-hydroxy or acyloxy derivative thereof, where R.sup.3 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or CH.sub.

Abstract: A detectable molecule of the formulaA.sup.3 --(--X--R.sup.1 --E--Det.sup.b).sub.mwhere A.sup.3 is A.sup.2 or a polymer, where A.sup.3 has at least one modifiable reactive group selected from the group consisting of amino, hydroxy, cis OH, halides, aryl, imidazoyl, carbonyl, carboxy, thiol or a residue comprising an activated carbon; --X-- is selected from the group consisting of ##STR1## a C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 branched or unbranched alkyl or aralkyl, which may be substituted by --OH; --Y-- is a direct bond to --E--, or --Y-- is --E--R.sup.2 -- where R.sup.2 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 branched or unbranched alkyl; Z.sub.a is chlorine, bromine or iodine; E is O, NH or an acylic divalent sulfur atom; Det.sup.b is a chemical moiety capable of being detected, preferably comprising biotin or a metal chelator of the formula: ##STR2## or the 4-hydroxy or acyloxy derivative thereof, where R.sup.3 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or CH.sub.

Abstract: Polynucleotide sequences in a sample of biological or nonbiological material are detected by a method involving fixing of the sequences on a solid support and forming an entity between the fixed sequences and chemically-labeled polynucleotide or oligonucleotide probes having a sequence complementary to the fixed sequence for determining the identification and/or presence of the target polynucleotide sequences. The chemical label covalently or noncovalently attached to the probe comprises a signalling moiety capable of generating a soluble signal detectable by spectrophotometric assay techniques.

Abstract: A detectable molecule of the formulaA.sup.3 --(--X--R.sup.1 --E--Det.sup.b).sub.mwhere A.sup.3 is A.sup.2 or a polymer, where A.sup.3 has at least one modifiable reactive group selected from the group consisting of amino, hydroxy, cis OH, halides, aryl, imidazoyl, carbonyl, carboxy, thiol or a residue comprising an activated carbon; --X-- is selected from the group consisting of ##STR1## a C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 branched or unbranched alkyl or aralkyl, which may be substituted by --OH; --Y-- is a direct bond to --E--, or --Y-- is --E--R.sup.2 -- where R.sup.2 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 branched or unbranched alkyl; Z.sub.a is chlorine, bromine or iodine; E is O, NH or an acyclic divalent sulfur atom; Det.sup.b is a chemical moiety capable of being detected, preferably comprising biotin or a metal chelator of the formula: ##STR2## or the 4-hydroxy or acyloxy derivative thereof, where R.sup.3 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or CH.sub.

Abstract: A detectable molecule of the formulaA.sup.3 --(--X--R.sup.1 --E--Det.sup.b).sub.mwhere A.sup.3 is A.sup.2 or a polymer, where A.sup.3 has at least one modifiable reactive group selected from the group consisting of amino, hydroxy, cis OH, halides, aryl, imidazoyl, carbonyl, carboxy, thiol or a residue comprising an activated carbon; --X-- is selected from the group consisting of ##STR1## a C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 branched or unbranched alkyl or aralkyl, which may be substituted by --OH; --Y-- is a direct bond to --E--, or --Y-- is --E--R.sup.2 -- where R is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 branched or unbranched alkyl; Z.sub.a is chlorine, bromine or iodine; E is O, NH or an acyclic divalent sulfur atom; Det.sup.b is a chemical moiety capable of being detected, preferably comprising biotin or a metal chelator of the formula: ##STR2## or the 4-hydroxy or acyloxy derivative thereof, where R.sup.3 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or CH.sub.

Abstract: A detectable molecule of the formulaA.sup.3 --(--X--R.sup.1 --E--Det.sup.b).sub.mwherein A.sup.3 is A.sup.2 or a polymer, where A.sup.3 has at least one modifiable reactive group selected from the group consisting of amino, hydroxy, cis .OH, halides, aryl, imidazoly, carbonyl, carboxy, thiol or a residue comprising an activated carbon; --X-- is selected from the group consisting of ##STR1## a C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 branched or unbranched alkyl or aralkyl, which may be substituted by --OH; --Y-- is a direct bond to --E--, or --Y-- is --E--R.sup.2 -- where R.sup.2 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 branched or unbranched alkyl; Z.sub.a is chlorine, bromine or iodine; E is O, NH or an acyclic divalent sulfur atom; Det.sup.b is a chemical moiety capable of being detected, preferably comprising biotin or a metal chelator of the formula: ##STR2## or the 4-hydroxy or acyloxy derivative thereof, where R.sup.3 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or CH.sub.

Abstract: A detectable molecule of the formulaA.sup.3 --(--X--R.sup.1 --E--Det.sup.b).sub.mwhere A.sup.3 is A.sup.2 or a polymer, where A.sup.3 has at least one modifiable reactive group selected from the group consisting of amino, hydroxy, cis OH, halides, aryl, imidazoyl, carbonyl, carboxy, thiol or a residue comprising an activated carbon; --X-- is selected from the group consisting of ##STR1## --R.sup.1 -- is ##STR2## or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 branched or unbranched alkyl or aralkyl, which may be substituted by --OH; --Y-- is a direct bond to --E--, or --Y-- is --E--R.sup.2 -- where R.sup.2 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 branched or unbranched alkyl; Z.sub.a is chlorine, bromine or iodine; E is O, NH or an acyclic divalent sulfur atom; Det.sup.b is a chemical moiety capable of being detected, preferably comprising biotin or a metal chelator of the formula: ##STR3## or the 4-hydroxy or acyloxy derivatives thereof, where R.sup.3 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or CH.sub.

Abstract: A detectable molecule of the formulaA.sup.3 --(--X--R.sup.1 --E--Det.sup.b).sub.mwhere A.sup.3 is A.sup.2 or a polymer, where A.sup.3 has at least one modifiable reactive group selected from the group consisting of amino, hydroxy, cis .OH, halides, aryl, imidazoyl, carbonyl, carboxy, thiol or a residue comprising an activated carbon; --X-- is selected from the group consisting of ##STR1## a C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 branched or unbranched alkyl or aralkyl, which may be substituted by --OH; --Y-- is a direct bond to --E--, or --Y-- is --E--R.sup.2 -- where R.sup.2 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 branched or unbranched alkyl; Z.sub.a is chlorine, bromine or iodine; E is O, NH or an acylic divalent sulfur atom; Det.sup.b is a chemical moiety capable of being detected, preferably comprising biotin or a metal chelator of the formula: ##STR2## or the 4-hydroxy or acyloxy derivative thereof, where R.sup.3 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or CH.sub.